Lysimachia foemina

Classification System: APG IV

Superregnum: Eukaryota
Regnum: Plantae
Cladus: Angiosperms
Cladus: Eudicots
Cladus: Core eudicots
Cladus: Asterids
Ordo: Ericales

Familia: Primulaceae
Subfamilia: Myrsinoideae
Genus: Lysimachia
Species: Lysimachia foemina
Name

Lysimachia foemina (Mill.) U.Manns & Anderb., Willdenowia 39: 52 (2009).
Synonyms

Basionym
Anagallis foemina Mill., Gard. Dict. ed. 8: n.º 2 (1768).
Homotypic
Anagallis arvensis subsp. foemina (Mill.) Schinz & Thell., Bull. Herb. Boiss. ser. 2, 7: 497 (1907).
Heterotypic
Anagallis caerulea Schreb., Spic. Fl. Lips.: 5 (1771). nom. illeg. non L. (1759)
Anagallis arvensis subsp. caerulea Hartm., Sv. Norsk Exc.-Fl.: 32 (1846), non (L.) Gouan (1765)

Distribution
Native distribution areas:

Continental: Europe
Regional: Northern Europe
Denmark, Finland, Great Britain, Norway, Sweden.
Regional: Middle Europe
Austria, Belgium, Czechoslovakia (introduced), Germany, Hungary, Netherlands, Poland, Switzerland.
Regional: Southwestern Europe
Baleares, Corse, France, Portugal, Sardegna (doubtfully present), Spain.
Regional: Southeastern Europe
Albania, Bulgaria, Greece, Italy, Kriti, Sicilia (doubtfully present), Turkey-in-Europe, Yugoslavia.
Regional: Eastern Europe
Belarus, Krym, Central European Russia, East European Russia, South European Russia, Ukraine.
Continental: Africa
Regional: Northern Africa
Morocco, Tunisia.
Regional: Macaronesia
Azores, Canary Islands, Madeira, Selvagens.
Regional: Middle Atlantic Ocean
St.Helena.
Continental: Asia-Temperate
Regional: Russian Far East (introduced)
Kamchatka.
Regional: Middle Asia
Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan.
Regional: Caucasus
North Caucasus, Transcaucasus.
Regional: Western Asia
Afghanistan, Cyprus, Lebanon-Syria, Palestine, Sinai, Turkey.
Regional: Arabian Peninsula
Saudi Arabia, Yemen.
Continental: Australasia (introduced)
Regional: Australia
Western Australia.
Continental: Northern America (introduced)
Regional: Northwestern U.S.A.
Colorado.
Regional: North-Central U.S.A.
Iowa.
Regional: Northeastern U.S.A.
Maine, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Vermont.
Regional: Southwestern U.S.A.
California.
Regional: Southeastern U.S.A.
Kentucky.
Continental: Southern America (introduced)
Regional: Western South America
Bolivia, Ecuador.

References: Brummitt, R.K. 2001. TDWG – World Geographical Scheme for Recording Plant Distributions, 2nd Edition
References
Primary references

Manns, U. & Anderberg, A.A. 2009. New combinations and names in Lysimachia (Myrsinaceae) for species of Anagallis, Pelletiera and Trientalis. Willdenowia 39(1): 49–54. DOI: 10.3372/wi.39.39103 Full text (PDF). Reference page.

Links

Hassler, M. 2021. World Plants. Synonymic Checklist and Distribution of the World Flora. . Lysimachia foemina. Accessed: 1 Aug 2021.
Hassler, M. 2021. Lysimachia foemina. World Plants: Synonymic Checklists of the Vascular Plants of the World In: Roskovh, Y., Abucay, L., Orrell, T., Nicolson, D., Bailly, N., Kirk, P., Bourgoin, T., DeWalt, R.E., Decock, W., De Wever, A., Nieukerken, E. van, Zarucchi, J. & Penev, L., eds. 2021. Species 2000 & ITIS Catalogue of Life. Published online. Accessed: 2021 Aug 1. Reference page.
Govaerts, R. et al. 2021. Lysimachia foemina in Kew Science Plants of the World online. The Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Published online. Accessed: 2021 Aug 1. Reference page.
Tropicos.org 2021. Lysimachia foemina. Missouri Botanical Garden. Published online. Accessed: 1 Aug 2021.
International Plant Names Index. 2021. Lysimachia foemina. Published online. Accessed: 1 Aug 2021.
Anagallis foemina – Taxon details on Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS).

Lysimachia foemina is commonly known as blue pimpernel[1] or poor man's weatherglass, and was formerly called Anagallis foemina. It is a low-growing annual herbaceous plant in the genus Lysimachia of the family Primulaceae. In a comparison of DNA sequences, L. foemina was shown to be most closely related to L. monelli.[2] It had been thought by many to be closest to L. arvensis, and some authors had even included L. foemina as a subspecies of L. arvensis, as Anagallis arvensis subsp foemina.[3] These three species (L arvensis, L foemina and L monelli) were among several transferred from Anagallis to Lysimachia in a 2009 paper.[4]

Etymology

The previous genus name Anagallis derives from the Greek words ana meaning "again" and agallein meaning "to delight in", possibly referring to the fact that these plants produce flowers twice in a year and the flowers open whenever the sun strikes them.[5] The species epithet foemina means "female" and refers to the small size of the plant and the gentleness of its appearance. The common name refers to the fact that the flowers close at the approaching of the bad weather.[6]
Description

Lysimachia foemina has weak, square and sprawling stems growing to about 5–18 centimetres (2.0–7.1 in) long,[7] which bear bright green sessile leaves in opposite pairs. The leaves are usually lance-shaped about 7–11 mm (0.28–0.43 in) wide and 12–16 mm (0.47–0.63 in) long, although some leaves, especially the lowest, may be ovate.

The small flowers are about 8 mm (0.31 in) in diameter, have a short stalk, are produced in the leaf axils and are usually blue. They have five lanceolate sepals and five petals. The filaments are about 3 mm (0.12 in) long, with showy yellow anthers. The flowering period extends from April to October.[7] The hermaphroditic flowers are pollinated by insects (entomogamy). The fruit is a spherical capsule up to 4 mm (0.16 in) in diameter containing about 15 seeds.[7]

This species is very similar to the related Lysimachia arvensis, and has been regarded as a subspecies of L arvensis. In 2007, a molecular phylogenetic study showed that Lysimachia foemina is more closely related to Lysimachia monelli than to Lysimachia arvensis, and should be treated as a separate species.[2]

Lysimachia foemina can be distinguished from Lysimachia arvensis on the basis of the hairiness and arrangement of the petals and by the length of the flower stalk. This species has just a few glandular hairs on the margins of the petals, clearly separated from one another (never imbricate). Furthermore the flower stalk is shorter (10 mm (0.39 in)). The colour of the flowers is not a useful diagnostic character.[7]
Distribution

This cosmopolitan plant is native to central and southern Europe and has been introduced in Africa, northern and eastern Asia, North and South America and western Australia.[7]
Habitat

It grows in scrub, uncultivated soils and grasslands. It prefers dry, nutrient- and lime-rich soils, at an altitude of 0–1,200 metres (0–3,937 ft) above sea level.[7]
References

Clive Stace, New Flora of the British Isles 4th edition 2019, p 552
Manns, Ulrika; Anderberg, AA (Dec 2007). "Relationships of Anagallis foemina and Anagallis arvensis (Myrsinaceae): New insights inferred from DNA sequence data". Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. PubMed. 45 (3): 971–980. doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2007.07.022. PMID 17869544.
Clapham, Tutin, & Warburg: Flora of the British Isles, 2nd edition, page 435
Manns, Ulrika; Anderberg, Arne A. (July 2009). "New combinations and names in Lysimachia (Myrsinaceae) for species of Anagallis, Pelletiera and Trientalis". Willdenowia. 39 (1): 49–54. doi:10.3372/wi.39.39103. JSTOR 20699148.
Malta Wild Plants
Trek Nature
Pignatti S. - Flora d'Italia – Edagricole – 1982. Vol. II, pag. 291

Vernacular names
Deutsch: Blauer Gauchheil
English: Poorman's weatherglass
español: Murrón
suomi: Sinipunka, sinialpi
français: Mouron bleu
Nederlands: Blauw Guichelheil
polski: Kurzyślad błękitnyPG